MTAM 'Women in Mobile/Wireless Tech' Advisory Council to Host Careers Event for Women

DETROIT - March 8, 2016 - PRLog -- Though women often assume differently, the career opportunities available to them as a result of their knowledge of mobile/wireless technologies are almost limitless and cross many industries. To help them get educated about a few of those career options, the ‘Women in Mobile/Wireless Tech’ Advisory Council of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (MTAM) is hosting a careers event on April 21^st  from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at RIIS Corporate offices at 1250 Stephenson Highway in Troy.

This event will feature women working in the areas of App Development, UX/UI, Ethics in Hacking, and Agile, and will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in round table discussions on each topic. Attendees will participate in all four topics on a rotating basis.

Registration for the event is available at http://www.messageblocks.com/a-women-in-mobile-wireless-tech-careers-event. The fee is $10 and attendance is limited, so those interested are encouraged to register early while seats are available. Sponsors for the event are RIIS (http://www.riis.com/) and the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (http://gomobilemichigan.org/) (MTAM).

Studies reflect the seriousness of the need for women to have increased awareness of the opportunities in mobile/wireless tech, as well as an understanding of how to go after – and keep - these positions:

• A recent study of 50 telecom companies indicated that females made up less than 40% of the workforce in ¾ of them (GSMA)
• The number of female CTOs in the tech industry has remained static at only 14% since 2004 (Gartner)
• In 2013 26% of computing jobs in the US were held by women, which is down from 35% in 1990 (American Association of University Women)
• A recent study of 12-year-ol girls found that 50% thought that STEM subjects were too difficult and 47% claimed these types of activities were better suited to their male counterparts (Accenture)
• 41% of women working in tech eventually end up leaving the field compared to 17% of men (Harvard Business Review)
• Investors preferred tech entrepreneurial ventures pitched by a man more than an identical pitch from a women by a rate of 68% to 32% (Joint study by HBS, Wharton and MIT Sloan)
• A study of performance reviews on high-performers in tech revealed that negative personality criticism (such as abrasive, strident, or irrational) showed up in 85% of reviews for women and just 2% of reviews for men. (Yale)

MTAM Executive Director, Linda Daichendt indicates, “It’s so important for women to understand the amazing opportunity available to them and the fact that they are indeed well-suited to mobile/wireless tech careers. It’s also important that we prepare them with ways to adapt to the existing culture they’ll find in many tech environments so they can be successful. When even the largest and most sought-after firms in our country are struggling to find women to fill available job openings – and to keep them once hired, it’s clear we need to do a better job of educating them and preparing them to go after and retain these lucrative positions. We expect this careers event to be a good start in helping Michigan’s efforts to achieving growth of women in these careers!”

About the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan

MTAM is a non-profit trade association for Michigan’s mobile / wireless technologies, the firm’s who provide them, and the firm’s – in all industries – who use them. The organization's mission is to facilitate conversation/collaboration between varied sectors of the mobile/wireless eco-system and serve as the bridge to enable diverse organizations to understand each other’s perspectives and needs in order to drive new innovation and opportunities involving these technologies; to increase the use of Michigan-based mobile/wireless technology products and services in-state, nationally and globally; to increase the productivity and profitability of every industry vertical in Michigan via the use of these technologies; to create sustainable jobs and increased entrepreneurial opportunities in the state based on the use of these technologies, thereby achieving substantial growth of Michigan’s economy; and to help the communities we serve via the use of these technologies. Information about MTAM can be found at www.GoMobileMichigan.org.